Taking Care of Home

I am and probably will always be a family oriented person. My family means so much to me. Growing up, I was the care giver. Or at least I thought I was. Lol. I was the middle child and wanted to always be there to protect my older sister and younger brother. I was the normal child. I think I always wanted to find a way out for my family. I grew up looking out the window, out towards the sky with the biggest hope and dream any little person had ever seen. I would talk about the houses and cars we would have and would be the one to bring it all back home. When I went to college, I thought I would graduate and run some major corporation that would afford me the opportunity to take my family on vacations and dinners to restaurants we didn’t know existed. I wanted to do that for my family. As I grew closer to that goal, I realized how obtainable it really is. That’s my way of looking at it. I believe it is possible, but I don’t think I knew all that would go into a life that was committed to taking care of several other people who have their own lives, hopes, dreams, and desires. I realized that the dream was my. The vision of the home, cars, and vacations were all my own. Everybody didn’t share the goal so we all don’t share the work, drive, and motivation to get it done. So sometimes, I feel like I’m going at it alone. I start thinking I’m the only person with a vision or plan. In the midst of frustration I had to laugh at myself. Who told me to take care of my family? It is a desire I have, but it isn’t something I can do until I fulfill my own dreams and take care of myself. The dreams I have for me still exist, outside and inside of the bigger ones I have for those around me. My mom would tell me that I needed to worry about myself. I would remind her that I have to make sure my family is okay. It is something that I have always done and still plan to do. But she reminds me that my life is still my own. I started to see that my immediate personal goals were interfering with my long term family goals. So I have to choose.

I can’t help anyone if I don’t help myself. I see now that my long term family goals can only come into fruition once my own desires are fulfilled. I wanted to stay close to home to make sure everything was okay, but I am just me. I am just a person. I am a human being with hope and desires and dreams and goals who wants to see, be, love and experience the world.

I finally realized that I’ve made my own crutch. Instead of living my life with my family at the center of my heart doing what I want to do, I’ve kept myself in a shelter, hoping nothing goes wrong if I stay close to home.

But life can’t be controlled. . . So, go with the flow. Pray. Trust. Live. That might be the best way for you to take care of home. Life has been created for all of us. And sometimes we make it harder on ourselves, by trying to control the chaos that is life.

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5 thoughts on “Taking Care of Home”

I love how you were able to see that in order for you to be able to fulfill your dream of taking care of your family that you have to take care of you first! That’s one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in life. I am the second oldest of 6 (and the only girl). My brothers are my entire life but as we all started to get older and some started creating families of their own I realized that it’s ok to let go and that I had to start living my life for me because living my life for all 5 of my brothers is for one impossible (lol) and secondly I would never really accomplish what God placed me here for if I continued to live my life for my family!!! Cheers to accomplishing all of your dreams!

This was so sweet & timely! How cute is it that you’re the only girl, I’m sure to had a lot of protection! I think girls natural take on the role and responsibilities of seeing that family sticks together, even once people have gone on to create their own. Life shows us how we should be together while we’re living apart 💗 Thanks for sharing!

You and l are the same person – middle born, protective of older sister and younger brother. All my friends know how obsessed l am about my family because l always choose them over my friends. And since my siblings and my mother are so sensitive and soft l always feel the need to be the strong one – the one who should provide and make sure that they are all satisfied. I totally get what you are saying, there’s nothing wrong with making our family a priority. What’s important is that we just don’t neglect ourselves 💖

Ashley I wanted you to know that I’m a family oriented person too like you. That’s not something to feel ashamed of. When you have family members you know blood is thicker than water with what family does for family and what friends do for friends. I love your blog posts. I feel good that you said you like my blog. Remember we are bloggers and that is what we will continue to do. Your posts are great!